Brisbane’s ibis population has dropped more than 30 per cent in the past financial year but it is unclear what has happened to them or whether they will be back.

In the 2016-17 financial year, Brisbane City Council recorded the city's ibis population as 3228, a sharp drop from the 4712 recorded the previous year.

Credit:Peter Rae

Often ridiculed as a "bin chicken", "tip turkey" or "sandwich snatcher", the large water bird was actually well-liked by Brisbane’s tourists, according to Griffith University urban ecologist Professor Darryl Jones.

He said some tourists were even taking selfies with the native bird.