Ah, the little crap weasels just got my first Almas. Alma may not be a fig on the fad or most popular list, but I think they are excellent. Unfortunately so do the mocking birds and crows. Has anyone got a system that works that doesn't include netting? Thankx.

Mike
I have a family of coopers hawks, red winged hawks and an air riffle. 
Coffee filters work for some. 

Coffee filters? How so?
Firing a 240 grain wad cutter usually upsets the neighbors.

Bird net.

Has anyone every used bird flashing tape for figs? It's not a total deterrent, but it slowed them down on the blueberries in years past.

I'm thinking about hanging up old DVD's as they're pretty shiney. I'm also looking at one of those sprinklers with a motion sensor. I just put lights with motion sensors on my garden so the deer can now see what they are eating much much better.

I tried aluminum foil in the garden, but it seemed to attract crows so I stopped doing that.  Some of the local berry growers here use small cannons (no projectile, just a "boom" noise) to scare away birds.  I guess I'm with Jon on this one -- netting works  (unless your trees are too big I guess).  (But I guess that doesn't fit the parameters of your original question!).

Mike   central NY state, zone 5

Any recommendations on where to buy netting?

I found some (netting) at a local nursery that specializes in fruit trees and berry bushes.  I don't know where they got it.

Newspaper works better than coffee filters.

http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/Newspaper-shield-5906820?highlight=newspaper

Home depot has netting.

Bird bird netting works THE best.  Depending on how tall your tree is,green tomatotrellis with the bird netting.  If yousecure the netting with zip ties, thien the netting can't move.  Use 2 or 3 trellises for larger trees.

Bird netting is very effective but it has its downsides. It snags on everything small and can be difficult to work with. And if you live where there are snakes and it's on the ground, they can get tangled up in it. They think they can get through it, but can't, and then can't get out. I've had to cut two large hissing gopher snakes (unharmed) out of it. Not fun for either of us. I've never used the stuff again.

I got mine on ebay, but it's harder to find deals there anymore. Try amazon.

Amazon 7'x100' for $13. Listed under deer netting. Can't beat that price anywhere in the world 'cause I looked.

Gina, I've had the same problem with snakes and promised myself never to use netting again, but I've changed my mind after seeing my hard labor go to the birds, literally.

Shiny objects seem to attract rather than repel my birds. I keep having to pick up the shiny white fig labels yards away from where they were placed.

I've made some portable PVC fig cages which I will post pictures of soon.

Home depot has the bird netting, at least the one in east meadow, ny has it. you can try using wind driven spinners that people who have boats use to keep seagulls on their docked boats, they just spin around so the birds can't land, maybe the motion will be enough to keep the birds away.

Here ya go.  200 feet, 14 ft wide, for under 70 bucks.

They also sell shade cloth, from 10% blockage all the way up to 90% at similar prices.  It's a commercial grade product and will last for years. 

It's a lot sure, but if you don't need so much, you can spread it around to some of your friends.   

http://www.amigoni.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=101&Product_Code=200BY14&Category_Code=BN

Netting is the best.

DO NOT USE CDs!  They do not work.  Also when the wind blows them against the tree, they will cut into the bark and damage the tree.  Foil, Mylar tape, etc. did not slow the birds down in my backyard.  Fake Owls... ugh.  I was particularly discouraged when the day after I moved mine there was a squirrel eating his nut on the ledge next to it.

One thing I have not tried is coiling a fake snake on a limb of the tree then tying the head (with fishing line) to a higher limb.  When the limbs move (either from wind or a bird/squirrel being in the tree) the head will bob as if the snake is alive.

Without any netting, coffee filters or newspaper, I turned to the shiny paper from a Crate and Barrel catalogue junk mail.   Just cut a square and then cut a slit in the square and put it around the fig.  I think the more unnatural looking the colors and pattern are on the magazine, the better.  It might resist water a little better than newspaper.  Best of all, it's free.  I don't know if it works though.  I just did it today after seeing all my ripe figs that have been munched on.

bird netting wont work.  I netted my blueberries and they kept on coming.  I vote for a .22

It's all in how you apply the bird netting. If it's the right netting and it's installed correctly, it works great. I had great success with the netting Dave linked to (sold through Amigoni Vineyards) until some very tiny birds in my location figured out they could squeeze through the mesh. Now Amigoni sells a smaller, pale green netting which has openings small enough to exclude all birds and even the green fig beetles (aka green June beetles). The openings are so small that only tiny snakes or lieards could conceivably become trapped in it, so I'm planning to order a roll and put it to work.

It works best if it's supported by a framework (PVC works nicely) so it's not in direct contact with your tree, and it should be stretched enough to take up any slack, so it doesn't hang in limp folds where birds and other critters can get tangled up in it.

Thanks everyone for the info. I have not made up my mind about netting but I did just order 2 more lights, a motion sensor equipped sprinkler and 12 14 inch rubber snakes. I have had to remove many many blacksnakes from landscaping netting and many times they are so damaged I've had to put them down. As I love having black snakes around I'm very reluctant to buy netting, but I've still not looked at all the options, i.e. 1/4 inch stuff, etc.

Tucsonken, can you give this link to buy this kind of netting?

They only sell large quantities--13'x820' for $245: http://www.amigoni.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=101&Category_Code=BNSM