I got the jump on birch tapping season this year, which is to say, I started early—too early, apparently.
Last year I found some very valuable information on proper birch tapping methods, but it appears I have yet to fully absorb its key points. Up until I found the information, everything I’d read on the subject focused on maple tree tapping methods, then extrapolated them to cover birch and other trees.
As it turns out, while maple and birch tapping share many methods, and the seasons overlap nicely, the saps rise differently. Therein lies the key.