Couple's flock of birds are TV stars

Most people don't mind having a cat or dog around the house, or even a rabbit.

But a Wolverhampton couple have gone a step further by sharing their life with dozens of squawking crows - some of which have even appeared on TV.

Mark and Lisa Edge run a sanctuary at their Wednesfield home for unwanted or injured crows, ravens, magpies and rooks and have 37 birds in their care.

"I used to be so scared of birds," Lisa said. "I didn't like them flying near me or coming anywhere near me.

"A few years ago, we found a crow on the ground and brought it home. We looked after it for a few months and it just spiralled out of that really.

"We were then getting people contact us to ask if we would take their unwanted birds from them."

The couple, who have two sons, Michael, aged 21, and Thomas, 15, keep the birds in aviaries in their back garden, although some will creep into the house on occasions.

Lisa, aged 48, said: "Sometimes Mark will sit on the chair and eat his tea with one of the birds.

"The birds are so tame, friendly and intelligent."

Lisa, a lollipop lady, said some of the birds had a calcium deficiency in their wings, while others had been attacked by cats.

The couple keep them an average of three to four months before releasing them back into the wild.

She added some of the birds had even made it onto the small screen, with parts on the likes of TV dramas Midsomer Murders and Frost. "Roxy the raven was in Midsomer Murders and Frost," she said.

The birds eat chicken and cat biscuits, although some like special treats such as scrambled eggs or ice lollies.

Mark, 44, is an undertaker with Co-operative Funeral Services in Willenhall.