Our Logo
The hero of the FoPL logo is the purple swamp hen, a familiar and charismatic resident all year in the Perry Lakes reserve. In the background is the iconic Reabold Hill, which forms a westerly backdrop to Perry Lakes and is one of the tallest natural points on the Swan Coastal Plain (85m).
As illustrated in our logo, purple swamp hens inhabit shallow water environments as well as the fringing vegetation. Here they feed on the soft bases of rushes and reeds, which they adeptly pluck and manoeuvre with their bright red giant-sized feet and beaks. You will also find swamp hens around the edge of the lakes grazing on the lawn. Though they seem unfazed by people, they are on their toes, always ready for a sprint to the water.
The Noongar word for purple swamp hens is Kwilom, and the scientific name is Porphyrio melanotus. The species has an Australia-wide distribution, reflecting that despite its gangly looks, it is a surprisingly good flier. Our swamp hens from Perry Lakes belong to the most spectacular sub-species (of course) with amazing iridescent blue-green feathers on their breast, and that is restricted to the south-west of Western Australia.
Aren’t we lucky to have such great wildlife on our doorsteps?
Logo Concept (and text on this page): Olly Berry
Initial Design Development: Patrick Bewley, Town of Cambridge
Final Design: Janice Law Design, Perth
First Published: June 1, 2022
