RESIDENTS are upset following the deaths of two eastern osprey chicks at Kingscliff early Thursday.

The chicks fell to their deaths after strong winds caused their artificial nest to fall from its structure at Cudgen Creek. Concerned Kingscliff resident Heather Stewardson discovered the dead birds and said she was angry they had died, blaming Tweed Shire Council for poor maintenance of the nesting area.

"It has been on a lean and I went to see if the nest was still on the top this morning and found the whole support had snapped off,” Ms Stewardson said.

"It is really upsetting as these birds are as important as any other environmental area of the Tweed Coast and yet no one seemed to be overseeing their welfare.”

But senior program leader of council's waterways program Tom Alletson said council had been alerted by National Parks and Wildlife Service officers and residents about the problems facing the nest but had been unable to assist while eggs were in the nest.

"We were unable to repair the structure until these chicks had left the nest as they would have been put in danger by any works,” Mr Alletson said.

Ms Stewardson said council should have taken action earlier to ensure the birds' safety.

"We have people concerned if whales are caught in a net, as they should be, but why are the vulnerable osprey any less important?” she said.

Eastern osprey are listed as vulnerable in NSW. Ms Stewardson said the chicks would be sorely missed in Kingscliff.

"It is so sad to look up and not see them looking so proudly down at us,” Ms Stewardson said.