Without advertising a vacancy, my husband and I have two new tenants sharing our home.

The metal awning above our back door must have looked like the perfect roosting spot to a pair of Carolina wrens seeking winter shelter.

These small rust-colored birds with distinctive white "eyebrows" come home each night at dusk and snuggle, head first, into their little nook in the awning. Only their backsides and tails are visible from our kitchen door.

In the morning our little guests are gone. Probably they spend their days exploring city backyards and foraging for food.

We could not be more thrilled with our tiny visitors.

Helping urban wildlife to survive in less than ideal surroundings and conditions is a favorite pastime of ours.

There is nothing more rewarding and entertaining than observing the wonders of nature in our backyard and neighborhood.

As kids growing up in the country, my siblings and I spent more time outdoors than in. We climbed trees, caught lightning bugs, played tag, planted gardens, waded in a creek, collected wild raspberries, and observed rabbits, groundhogs, snakes, insects and other wild creatures that shared our space.

Some studies I have read indicate today's children spend an average of six hours a day with television and their electronic devices.

The time youths spend outdoors has declined by 50 percent in the past 20 years, according to research by the National Wildlife Federation.

These children are losing the important connection humans share with the rest of the natural world.

In addition, they are missing the many benefits of outdoor activity: exercise; unstructured, imaginative play; lower stress levels; fresh air and overall better health and body weight.

Like me, countless youngsters experience their first encounters with wildlife in the backyard or neighborhood green spaces.

They learn the value of wild places and animals. They learn the special characteristics and adaptations of every creature.

As they learn, kids come to see the importance of human lifestyle choices that will allow native plants and animals to continue to exist.

These youngsters come to realize the importance of conserving and restoring wildlife habitats in their yards and in their communities.

Nature and kids are a magical combination. And fall is a magical time of year to introduce children to the natural world.

Right now gorgeous trees are dressed in vivid wardrobes.

Animals scurry about to stockpile food and find warm homes.

We can help kids connect with nature by collecting and studying fall leaves. Together, we can watch wild critters and their habits: where they live, what they eat, how they interact with other creatures, how they travel, how far they range.

Such observations are not only educational, they are a source of constant entertainment.

Connecting youths to nature is also rewarding, both for them and for the wild critters which can benefit from efforts to provide food, shelter and water during the upcoming cold weather.

In the long term, when kids get to know, appreciate and respect nature, they are better able to understand the responsibility each of us has to be a good steward of our earth.

All of us need to be reminded we humans are not alone in this world. All of life is connected.

At my home, we're happy to share our modest space with the squirrels and birds and other creatures that visit or live in our urban backyard wildlife habitat.

Like our most recent tenants, those little Carolina wrens, none of these animals owes us "rent" for food and shelter.

Daily these marvelous wild creatures lift our spirits, amuse and surprise us and give us reason to smile.

That is more than enough compensation.