Here's a picture of my 2 binder clip, one (natural) #2 coffee filter fig protector on my VDB!

Nice...and the filter breathes...

Could also place a staple or two. Good idea, Anniebee.

Annibee, I love this solution!  I've been using clothpins and newpaper.  I like the filters better.  thanks for the tip!

Hi AnnieBee,
thats a nice looking fig and a clever idea.
Just please do not send them birds to Illinois , ones here are not so privy to figs.

Anniebee very clever idea!! Do you also have a problem with squirrels and if so does this help or do they get the fig anyway?  

This year I have used a piece of aluminum foil to form a loose foil cage around some "prized" figs.  So far it has worked quite well and it, too, is pretty easy.  Maybe I'll try the coffee filter next.  I didn't find the plastic berry container very easy, although I still thinks its a great idea for someone with good hands and coordination.

  Gee! You all think I might be on to something good! Thanks, I do hope it works.
 This idea is completely untested. I just came up with it yesterday when I couldn't tell how to put a clear berry box on the fruit without it pinching the tender stem or weighing the fruit down. (Still think that's just genius, but will save that for other kinds of fruit!)
  I have not yet lost any figs to animals, but I haven't had a lot of figs so far for them to take notice of what I'm up to. I'm not going to wait for them to 'fig'ure it out.
 Mostly, I am concerned about chipmunks, because I see them running across the deck where I have my trees and I know they can climb! There are also raccoons, possums, and birds here. I've NEVER seen a squirrel in my yard, have no idea why.
 Martin, I don't know about catching you some birds, but I could SO send you a nice box of chipmunks! If you send me your address, I'll get right on that! I'm sure they'd be hungry after a few days in a box! :)

I have not had trouble with crows and they are in the neighborhood. However I had a flock of small parrots spend the weekend in a large tree next to my yard. If they ever find my covered figs I may have to look for some good recipes(JUST KIDDING).

Quaker parrots  aka Monk

I am trialing the coffee filter and newspaper critter (bird) protection system on a total of six figs on three trees (two on each tree) that were ripening before I left for travel. One each per tree: one covered with newspaper and the other with the filter. It rained heavily yesterday and drizzled through the night.

The paper/filter needs to dry, dry quickly, and not get knocked off by heavy rain. We will see how well it works. It has been put to the test.

I will report once I return to my world of figs in pots.

UPDATE: The daily showers here in 8B limit the effectiveness of this protection for me; it encourages mold and makes the skin slippery when wet. I will continue my search and use this method when the forecast says sunny with a small chance of showers. A few watery and moldy fig photos are attached. The first two images are Black Bethlehem and the second two are Hunt.