The first hint that something was amiss in Wallingford came from Jenny:

Penguins seem to be invading Wallingford all of a sudden. I spotted one inside Alphabet Soup this morning and then another one outside the Boys and Girls Club a few minutes later. They’re quite colorful and seemingly harmless.

Penguins? In Wallingford? We’ve had some unusual weather of late, but still. Maybe she meant guys in penguins suits?

Guy in a penguin suit would be hilarious, but nope, they’re little sculptures, a couple of feet high, very cute, each one decorated uniquely. (I think each one was done by a different artist.) It’s similar to the Pike Place Market “Pigs on Parade” thing a year or two ago, or the Nutcrackers that were everywhere during the holidays, or Chicago’s “Cows on Parade” (which I think was the first one).

Turns out they are, indeed, a fundraiser for the Woodland Park Zoo, created by 62 Seattle artists, and they’ll be inhabiting Wallingford (and Fremont, Ballard, Phinney Ridge and Greenwood) until September. If you’re interested in supporting the Zoo and owning a penguin, though, you’ll want to get in on the auction they’re holding July 10th or August 14th.

Big thanks to Kara C from the Wallingford Chamber for contacting the Zoo and directing some of those birds our way.