diff --git a/biome_defs.lua b/biome_defs.lua
index 7619abb..342c80d 100644
--- a/biome_defs.lua
+++ b/biome_defs.lua
@@ -113,6 +113,7 @@ moretrees.birch_biome = {
 	temp_max = 0.3,
 	rarity = 50,
 	max_count = 10,
+	fill_ratio = 0.001,
 }
 
 moretrees.willow_biome = {
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 71917aa..33e02d7 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ function translate_biome_defs(def, treename, index)
 		deco_type = "simple",
 		place_on = def.place_on or def.surface,
 		sidelen = 16,
-		fill_ratio = def.fill_ratio or 0.005,
+		fill_ratio = def.fill_ratio or 0.001,
 		--biomes eventually?
 		y_min = def.min_elevation,
 		y_max = def.max_elevation,