2025 UPDATE

Production

After low snowfall levels last year, the 2025 season saw record amounts of snow… then thaw… then snow… lots more of it. From a field work perspective, it was the most labour-intensive tapping season on record. Due to the snow/thaw cycle many 1” mainlines and 5/16” laterals were weighted down and frozen in the snowpack. Black Bird crew worked diligently throughout the tapping season to dig out lines and to complete tapping by February. First sap run occurred in January, then intermittently until mid-March when flows really strengthened.

The syrup production season, on the other hand, went quite smooth. At 152,000 taps, Black Bird ran two shifts over 24 hours for duration of season. Day shift was devoted to syrup production and sap collection/concentration, while night shift handled clean up and sap concentration. A higher tap count resulted in a record production year for Black Bird.

Tree removal, repairs on 1" mainline.

Winter scenery of sugar bush.

Expansion

During the summer and fall 2025, Black Bird installed underground tubing, mainlines, 5/16” line and droplines for a 25,000-tap expansion. Crew also added droplines to trees that were now large enough throughout the entire sugarbush. Total tap count for 2026 production season will be 180,000, without use of any external pump houses. Weather permitting, crew will begin tapping in early December.

Burying 3" wet/dry lines.

Installing 5/16" tubing.

5/16" to 1" mainline connections.

Facility Upgrades

Black Bird has noticed that replacement cost of prefilters for reverse osmosis system can be quite high. Industry has been utilizing media filters to clean the sap prior to running it through ROs with great results. As such, Black Bird has designed and installed a system for 2026 production year. It is our expectation that this install will increase uptime and reduce processing costs.

Updated manifold to accommodate new filtration system.

In progress install of filtration system; 2 centrifugal filters, 2 media filters.

Other News

In 2023, Black Bird took a step back from logging to pursue a carbon sequestration project. In fall 2025, the project was approved under the American Carbon Registry for Improved Forest Management protocol. The project and available credits can be viewed on Finite Carbon website, listed as the Batchawana Bay Forest.

Large white spruce on landbase.

Looking Ahead

As expansion is completed, Black Bird will be moving into a maintenance roll for 2026 season, repairing/replacing tubing as necessary. Some attention will be given to the monitoring system for a long-term maintainable solution. Processes within facility will be assessed during production season and upgrades will be considered as necessary.

All the Best,

Black Bird Management Ltd.