In a time long before the term "bin chicken" existed, ibises were the subject of reverence rather than divisive debate.

Paleogeneticist Sally Wasef has dedicated her research to studying ibis DNA from ancient Egypt, where the birds were respected because of their representation of the god Thoth.

An ibis seen at South Bank in Brisbane. Credit:Bradley Kanaris

Dr Wasef said the birds represented the purity of white through their feathers, the magic of the moon through their crescent-shaped beaks and wisdom in knowing what water source was drinkable.

“[Ancient Egyptians] respected ibises so much, you could be put to death if you killed an ibis …[and] only the priests were able to mummify them,” she said.