I’m Getting A Little Too Close To the Number of Pets Iowans Can Have

According to Cedar Falls, you are allowed to own 3 dogs and/or 3 cats without having to qualify as a kennel. No thanks to my fiance... we are just under the limit for dogs and cats in the house. However, I think we might've finally stepped overboard and are breaking the law. I'm not sure, I couldn't find much information about claiming a bird as a pet.

I want to introduce you to Gwen. She's a little house sparrow that lives in her nest right above the door we use to walk into our home.

I couldn't find her hanging out in the backyard this morning to capture my own picture but to give you an idea, she looks like this. We even have a wooden privacy fence in our backyard so this is a pretty close picture of what Gwen would look like in the evening.

I decided to give this bird a name because our cats constantly hear her talking in the morning and when she peeps they try to run to the window to get a look at her. She's like our own personal alarm clock. She's always flying around our backyard, as well as our neighbors, so I kind of decided to add her to the family. It was either that or I accept she's living rent free at (on?) my house.

In recent months she laid eggs in her nest and without wanting to get too close I haven't been able to climb up there and get a good look how far along they are. Most of these common "house sparrows" nest in the spring or summer and I'd rather not mess with their natural evolution of life, so I've just let them be.

It doesn't happen very often but once in a while Gwen lets you know she's not happy you're nearbye her house. She's flown down and swooped at my head before as I'm walking to my garage. I always tell Gwen I'm sorry but I have to get to work. In the afternoon when I come back home I'll usually look up at the nest, say Hi, and then walk inside.

What do you think? Should I have to claim Gwen as a pet? I mean she technically does live on my property. We don't have a bird feeder so we've never personally fed her but she does spend a lot of time with us. Does anyone know what the law would be on adopting a bird that just hangs out in your backyard and under your roof?

By the way, if Gwen ever actually chased me around, I'd look just like this kid. I actually have a pretty big phobia of birds.