With the Olympics around the corner, let’s embrace the ibis as a Brisbane icon

In all the talk of new sporting venues and how Brisbane will be perceived during the 2032 Olympic Games, one important feature of our urban landscape has been left out – the ibis.

Forget white elephants. In eight years’ time, as international visitors descend on the city, the white plumes of this loathed local species will greet them.

Foul-smelling swamp bird or a potential Brisbane icon?Credit: Courtney Kruk

Few Australian animals inspire as much contempt. But have we got this all wrong? Should we treat this foul-smelling swamp bird as an icon of the city, rather than a stain against our name?

Enter the PR campaign that no one asked for: make ibises great again.

Were ibises ever great? In some cultures, yes. The African sacred ibis, which looks very similar to the Australian white ibis, was revered by the ancient Egyptians. There are 29 species spread across the globe, some strikingly beautiful.

It’s unfortunate that ours is treated as a scourge – but that’s one reason to improve our relationship with them.

If we are to peacefully coexist, it’s in our best interest to view ibises endearingly, or at the very least, with a hint of acceptance. And so the ibis odyssey begins.

Ryan Forster, AKA Sethius Art, is well ahead of me.

He’s responsible for the metal ibis sculptures that have popped up around the city, outside local businesses, above bus shelters – even in City Hall.

Each named “Binny”, after the “bin chicken” moniker, the most popular sits atop the XXXX brewery in Milton with a beer in foot – a beautiful fusion of the city’s culture.

The sculptures were initially established incognito, but the allure of ibis art proved so powerful, several were lost to thieves. Now Forster works with businesses to have them properly installed.

“A lot of people just loved the novelty of seeing a big bin chicken holding something, and they wanted one for themselves,” he says.

The Victorian-born artist has become an accidental ibis champion, completing his own personal rehabilitation to find a place in his heart – and art – for the bird.

“I can’t say that I was particularly enamoured by them when I first saw them, but now I think they are just such an iconic part of Brisbane life,” he says.

“It wasn’t intentional [with the art] at first, but I’m really happy to be part of this movement that’s turning around people’s perception of the ibis.”

Researcher Dr Dominique Potvin walked so artists like Forster could run.

The senior lecturer in animal ecology at the University of the Sunshine Coast studies how south-east Queensland’s ibises breed, feed and move around urban areas.

“The ibis used to be a solely wetland species,” Potvin explains. “But essentially, because of agriculture and other developments that have drained wetlands, they’ve lost a lot of their natural habitat.”

Dr Dominique Potvin’s research has helped reframe our relationship with the ibis.Credit: University of the Sunshine Coast

She says Brisbane’s problematic relationship with the ibis is a local spin on a global phenomenon.

“There are ‘nuisance’ birds in every city around the world … and a good handful of species that have managed to exploit the urban environment such that we start to see them as competition.”

Potvin takes an academic approach to understanding ibises, but the Canadian native has clearly grown fond of the bird.

“When people come to Australia, they see an ibis and they go, ‘Oh, it’s a beautiful bird’. Because it is, actually. It’s very odd looking, but it’s also cool.

“They’re also very smart ... and they have quite distinct personalities. Some have really close friendship groups, and some are loners that go off and travel the country.”

Her research has helped people understand the individuality and inner world of ibises, in turn improving local perceptions of them.

“We’ve tagged a lot of ibis for this project and each wing tag has a number that corresponds to a name.

“It’s a nice, somewhat unintended, side effect of our project that people can recognise their local birds. It’s started to change their opinions.

“Once you understand their behaviour a little bit better, you start to avoid those negative feelings.”

It might be years before the fruits of this campaign are fully realised and that public perception of the ibis is changed. Hell, it might never happen. But in the weeks since I began testing my brain’s neuroplasticity, I can honestly say my view of the ibis has softened.

Yes, they smell, honk, and at times disgust me. But after looking at pictures of baby ibises, naming those I see wandering around the CBD, and trying to better understand their hopes and dreams (a safe place to sleep and a nice meal), I dislike them less.

One day, I might even see them as a proud icon of Brisbane.