We have a birch tree that we're guessing is about 7 years old (age of
house), about 25 feet high, and has two main limbs/trunks.
During the icestorm this winter, it bent over so dramatically -
to the ground, each trunk in a different direction - that we didn't
think it would survive. But it sprang back, and seemed to be ok.
We had a few strong storms/rain recently (July), and one limb started
to bend back down again towards our front door, the other just bent a
little. Both have stayed that way.
We are going to attempt to stake it using guy ropes: Is this the
appropriate course of action, and if so do you have some guidelines on
how best to stake/guy it?
I can send pictures if that would help...

Thanks, fmbrit

I am no expert, but if your young birch already has a split trunk  -
two main upward branches in lieu of a single trunk -  I would consider
cutting the one that is sagging.  The other may assume then the role
as vertical trunk.  Alternatively, you could have them both bound
together, so they support each other, and hope that with growth they
gain strenghth and stay upright.  If the tree is only seven or ten
years old, it seems that it has grown fast.
Birch are weeds  - one forester's comment.  Their advantage in a yard
is that they draw a lot of water from the ground.  Many householders
find them a nuisance since they spread a lot of seeds and leaves  -
yours maybe not yet.

Yes, pictures would be interesting and helpful to a more professional response.

Myoarin

I posted 3 pictures of the birch tree to my homepage:
http://homepage.mac.com/fmbrit/birch_tree_site/
no password needed.

fmbrit

Hi Fmbrit,
Thanks for the photos.  I ( no expert ) would tie the limbs together
and hope that they learned to grow upright.  As you mentioned, it is a
young tree that has shown fast growth  - soft wood and top-heavy under
the snow.
The nice thing about nature is that it usually takes care of itself. 
And you can always take more radical measures at a later date.
As a German saying has it:  When you plant a garden, buy an ax.
Myoarin