Birch, maple, cherry - all blotch like a muh fugga. I've had better luck in the past with dye than stains (on furniture/cabinets). Dye can still blotch but not to the extent of pigment based stain IME.
Have never tried it but have read and know a few guys that swear by rubbing a quick layer of gel varnish on the prepped, bare piece and after working it in laying a layer of stain on immediately. Always seemed like more trouble than birch was worth to me.
As for maple and cherry I personally prefer not to stain or dye - let it be what it is or choose lumber that is the color you want is my philosophy (for furniture/cabinet work anyway).
