Natural England published a skeletal version of its Hen Harrier tracking dataset back in September 2017, after years of pressure from this blog and others. Last Saturday it updated that dataset by adding one extra column – of grid references of the last good fixes of Hen Harriers that were known to be dead or had ceased to transmit (quite possibly because they were victims of wildlife crime).
Unfortunately the updated dataset has some errors in it, and that may mean, that the original version of the dataset also has errors in it. Who knows, it might even mean that the dataset used by academics and which would have formed the basis of the secret talk at a conference in Vancouver on Saturday had errors in it. It’s difficult to know, but important to sort out.
Everyone makes mistakes, but NE has not so far (as of this morning) corrected the published dataset, nor have I seen or heard of any statement from NE on this matter.
Can we be sure that there are mistakes? Yes, when the location of last contact is given as being in a particular county or geographic area and yet the grid reference for the same location is from another county or area, then one (or possibly both) of them is wrong.
There are some clear examples of mismatched last-named locations and their grid references in the dataset:
- #137372a, NaTalie, is listed as being in the Peak District (found 1km from the nest – the nest that was still in existence above the first Hen Harrier Day rally at the Derwent Dam) but her grid reference is in Cumbria (and is identical with that of joanne #137372 whose body was recovered a few days before Na Talie was tagged and so presumably yhr tag was recycled which may have led to the confusion.).
- #90691 is listed as having a last fix in the N York Moors but actually has a grid reference in Bowland. Maybe the correct grid reference is SE612944 instead of SD612494?
- #73591 is listed as having a last fix in Bowland but its grid reference is in the Yorkshire Dales/Nidderdale area.
- #73589 is listed as being in the North Pennines, Cumbria but its grid reference seems firmly positioned in North Yorkshire (although quite near the Cumbria border).
- #73588 is listed as having a last fix in Bowland but its grid reference actually seems to be NW of Pately Bridge in the Nidderdale area.
- #58946 is listed as having a last fix at Langholm but its grid reference is some way west of there in Dumfries and Galloway
- Annie #58946a is listed as having a last fix in Dumfries and Galloway but the grid reference is near Langholm. It may be that the grid references of this bird and the one above have been swapped in error – easily done.
Of course, there may be other errors – these are just ones where the named location and its grid reference are so far out of kilter that they cannot both possibly be right.
It’s all a bit odd and although it is possible to guess, second guess and third guess what is going on here only those with responsibility for the database can really clear it up.
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Odd maybe, but also for such a small dataset
careless
typical
useless
incomplete
They just don’t care, do they, reflecting the views of those they have chosen to make agreements with, and, of course, this government.
I hope they gave better data to the group to whom they chose to hand the complete data, or did they?
Alex – I would guess it is simply a cock-up, but it needs sorting quickly.
All cock-ups have a context and I wonder whether here it reflects low staff morale, too much work and too few people to do it and a last minute rush once they finally realised further delay was untenable.
Excellent expose of cock up or otherwise, whatever – it undermines for the umpteenth time any credibility?
Lost count of how many times we’ve asked: Are they (NE or even Defra) fit for purpose?
Please, NE fans of staff on the ground, this isn’t a dig at the foot soldiers. Be careful what you wish for I hear supporters say but really? We waste so much time trying to fathom what their agenda is or trying to get through/round their smoke screens which we could be using to better effect that they are doing more harm than good in so much as they are just ministerial bodyguards? Not a witch hunt but high time there was transparency and accountability? Yawn …. violin playing in the background etc.
Seriously, this is yet another in a long series of deliberate or otherwise so let’s cull the organisation (NNRs can be dealt with as part of the process) and some might also present a case that the RPA should also suffer the same fate).
Defra is a shambles, clearly unaccountable to the tax paying public?
Figuratively and quite literally, NE have lost the plot.
Mike – Boom! Boom! (wish I’d thought of that!)
Langholm is in Dumfries and Galloway
Matt – but the grid reference isn’t at Langholm, that’s the point.
“Annie #58946a is listed as having a last fix in Dumfries and Galloway but the grid reference is near Langholm”