Swallows

I saw this nest on my stoep a year ago, but never saw any inhabitants, so I thought it was built and then abandoned for some reason. Tonight I suddenly saw two little faces looking out, and an anxious parent flying back and forth, probably scared by me and my camera a few feet away taking pictures through the glass door.

I remembered another house I lived in years ago, and the swallows had also built a nest on the stoep. I was so excited about it, and when I got home one day, the cleaning lady had demolished the nest. When I asked her why would she do such a terrible thing, she just said 'Because they make such a mess on the stoep and I have to clean it up!' I had no answer...