[hinckley buzzard]

They aren't "nailed" to a tree, they are hung on spickets. They have a loose fitting lid to keep rain or snow out. In widespread use around NE Ohio. Just saw a bunch of them in Geauga County yesterday.

[Ray76]

That's old school.

Each tap is connected to tubing running to a central location. The sap is taken from there to the sugar house where it's cooked into syrup. Here's some pictures I found.

Here's a collection tank

At least that's how it's done in New England