NEWPORT — Crystal Phillips is getting that maternal feeling again as she keeps a close watch on a pair of fertile Gentoo penguin eggs.

Crystal Phillips shows one of two fertile Gentoo penguin eggs that she's nurturing. (Patrick Reddy photo) | ZOOM |

        She's been here before.

        In June 2000, the Newport Aquarium's senior aquatic biologist acted as midwife in hatching and helping raise three Gentoo chicks after acquiring three fertile eggs from the Wildlife Conservation Society.

        Now she has a pair of eggs laid Dec. 9 and Dec. 12 by a Gentoo mommy living at the aquarium, eggs that definitely contain developing embryos.

        “This is exciting, especially because this pair of Gentoos is young, in early adulthood. The staff hoped this pair would build a nest. It's a pleasant surprise to have the eggs, and especially fertile ones from a first-time set of parents.”

        There are 16 King penguins and four Gentoo penguins in the aquarium exhibit.

        Ms. Phillips literally lived with the three chicks hatched in 2000, feeding them, caring for them and even giving them their first swimming lessons in a small plastic pool until they were old enough to join the rest of the penguins.

        The new eggs were taken from the parents and placed in an incubator.

        Ms. Phillips and aquarium veterinarian Tim Millican share egg-watching duties. Chicks should begin to pip —break out of their shells — in January and they'll be returned to the parents for hatching.

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