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The New Zealand native Wood Pigeon plays a vital role in the ecology of the forest in that it swallows fruit whole and disperses their seeds which helps perpetuate it's own food supply. They prefer a diet of fruit but also eat flowers and leaves. The pigeon may nest twice a year but only lays one egg. It feeds its young initially on "pigeon milk" which is a creamy protein-rich substance produced in its crop and then later on regurgitated food. An unusual trait of the Pigeon is to shower in light rain by rolling over to allow the rain to wash its belly and then rolling back. Despite being on the protected list, its numbers have been declining due to illegal poaching for food.