Dataset Description

This dataset accompanies the article “Long-term tracking reveals variable partial migration and nomadism in an Endangered bustard” (Dobson et al. 2025, Ostrich). It contains GPS tracking data from six Ludwig’s Bustards (Neotis ludwigii) monitored across semi-arid shrublands in southern Africa over periods of up to 12.7 years.

The dataset includes:

Individual-level GPS fixes with date, time, and location.


Description of fields

ID – Unique identifier for each tracked individual bustard.

date – Calendar date of the GPS fix (DD/MM/YYYY).

Date.Time – Unix timestamp (seconds since 1 January 1970, UTC) corresponding to the time of the GPS fix.

Latitude.N. – Latitude coordinate (decimal degrees, negative values indicate southern hemisphere).

Longitude.E. – Longitude coordinate (decimal degrees, positive values indicate eastern hemisphere).


The data were collected to investigate space use, nomadism, and facultative partial migration in this Endangered species.

Acknowledgements — We thank Ben Dilley, Delia Davies and Ross Wheeler for invaluable assistance with catching bustards, and the many other people who provided advice on catching and tagging. Andrew Jenkins was instrumental in setting up the project, and we also thank the four landowners who allowed captures on their properties. The source of the data is acknowledged as the Endangered Wildlife Trust and ESKOM, both of whom kindly facilitated this work in the early days.

Funding — This project was supported financially and logistically by Eskom, Endangered Wildlife Trust, Mazda Wildlife Fund, Abax Foundation, Mohammed bin Zayed Species Conservation Fund, FitzPatrick DST/NRF Centre of Excellence and the University of Cape Town (UCT). This research was supported by the Leeds-York-Hull Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Doctoral Training Partnership (DTP) Panorama (NE/S007458/1).

Permits — Bustards were caught and tagged under permits issued by the University of Cape Town Animal Ethics Committee (2009/V20/JS, R2010/V6/JS, 2011/V1/JS-R and 2011V19R/ JS), CapeNature (CapeNature #0035-AAA007-00053) and the Northern Cape Department of Environment and Nature Conservation (FAUNA 853/2009, FAUNA 817/2010 and FAUNA 1025/2011).