A sporting field near Canberra has been closed for up to a month after a native bird decided to lay an egg on the halfway line.

The egg appeared in the middle of a field at Jerrabomberra Regional Sports Complex over the weekend.

It was laid by a plover, a protected native bird known for their aggressive temperament, especially when it comes to their young.

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) initially advised that the egg should not be moved, forcing the field to be shut down.

Games that were supposed to be played there over the weekend had to be moved to alternative fields.

Now players will be unable to use the field until the egg hatches – or until council is able to carefully move it, with NPWS approval.

"NPWS have granted us a licence to move the nest in incremental s

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