Production
Minimal snowfall best describes the winter season in 2024. In fact, tapping was entirely completed by end of February without strapping on a pair of snowshoes. Black Bird was concerned that a shortened season could occur if faced with high average temperatures in the spring. Luckily, the spring was quite mild with cold snaps overnight resulting in a prolonged and productive season. Although not our record, it was an above average year for our area.
Staff heading out tapping.
Boiling on a cold day in February.
Collecting sap, the large diameter pipe is 6" (15cm) in diameter.
Production at mid-March. These are 1000L totes.
Expansion
Upon completion of untapping our crew tackled another sizeable expansion during the summer and fall. Focus was placed on burying the last sap conduction lines to the facility. About half of this task was completed in 2024. An additional 11,000 taps were installed bringing the grand total to 153,000 taps for the 2025 season.
Black Bird staff getting ready to unspool a bobbin of 1" mainline.
3" (10cm) buried conductor lines.
Facility Upgrades
Facility upgrades were minimal this year. Equipment installed in 2023 preformed admirably with no breakdowns. Black Bird is looking at a pre-filtration system to filter the sap prior to entering the reverse osmosis. Various technologies have been considered, and installation of this system is likely to occur during the fall 2025, stay tuned.
Community Involvement
Hockey and maple syrup, that's about as Canadian as it gets!
Looking Ahead
Goals for the 2025 season are centered around completion of collection grid (Estimated at 25,000 taps). This will bring our grand total to approximately 180,000 taps, which will be the final phase of expansion. All taps are on a gravity system, without need for external pumphouses or trucking, reducing contamination risk and making this installation more carbon friendly. Underground lines also maintain low sap temperature, inhibiting bacterial growth during hot spring days, potentially lengthening the operating season. We wish everyone a great 2025 season.
All the Best,
Black Bird Management Ltd.