The tiny bird that has Canadian music festival organisers in a flap

A single bird and its nest is ruffling feathers at the site of Ottawa's biggest music festival.

The tiny bird is protected by a security guard who watches his subject like a hawk. Source: Twitter

Organisers of a major festival in the Canadian capital Ottawa are busy hatching plans to deal with a tiny bird and its nest. 

The plover, called a killdeer, has made its home on a cobblestone path where the Bluesfest main stage is meant to be set up. 

The area has now been cordoned off with yellow tape and a security guard hired to provide 24-hour protection of its feathered resident. 

Faced with the unusual problem, Ottawa Bluesfest executive director Mark Monahan admitted they were winging it. 

"We've cordoned off the area in order to protect the bird and the nest and the eggs and we've looked at our options of what we can do."

Once the birds hatch they will leave the area soon after, but they don't know whether that will take days or weeks.  

Several thousand music fans are set to flock to the site for the 10-day festival starting next week.

This year's line up includes Bryan Adams, Shawn Mendes and Australia's own Courtney Barnett.  

Mr Monahan said they had applied to Canada's environmental authority for permission to move the nest to safety and allow them to set up the main stage. 

Ottawa Bluesfest is the biggest music festival in the capital city. Source: Supplied

The protected bird has gained many fans on social media and now even has its own Twitter account.