EUGENE, Ore. -- Neighbors say they are sick at the thought of someone shooting at an Osprey nest on top of a man-made perch at James Madison Middle School in Eugene.

They say that a few days ago they heard shots, and that the next day they saw a dead Osprey with it's wings fully sprawled out hanging from the perch where its nest is.

To make things even worse - Osprey are on the list of protected species under the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife.

"What are (sic) wrong with people," said Carol Pratt, a nearby neighbor.

"I was so sick over it and depressed," added Katie James, another neighbor. "It took me about a day to even get over it. I would much rather it be an eagle that got them rather than a human to do something like that."

Glenn Martin lives across the street from the middle school and he says if it turns out this was an act of violence then justice needs to be served.

"(The nest) is a good thing for all the students you know," said Martin. "It makes them feel connected and if someone were to come and just take a shot at the birds... they need to be taken into custody."

Neighbors say they have contacted EWEB who put up the perch as well as the Raptor Center and ODFW to see what can be done about it, but still no word and still, the dead bird remains.