Yeah, they do make a mess under the nest. The nest here is right above our front door, over the porch:\
But I do enjoy them so I let them stay. Every year Mack threatens to tear it down. One year sparrows did, but the swallow rebuilt:)
Becky
We had a probelm with sparrows nesting on our porch so we put up nest boxes in the yard but they preferred the porch. I took two of my dogs stuffed toys and put them where they try to nest and that solved that problem! They are so funny, every year they come back and try again but see the doggie smelling stuffed toys stuffed in there and they squak and flap around then fly off. You can tell they are pissed. Whenever we have company over they always ask why I have stuffed toys on my porch supports and I tell them those are my scarecrows!