In 2012, the birds enjoyed the fig growing season more than I did. This season is different and I have more time to experiment with different forms of protection.

Newspaper has been my primary source of protection. In seasons past, I have tried the plastic berry containers but the figs seemed to sour and mold more frequently and more quickly when in those containers. I am trying them again.

Bird netted PVC is my best option for grounded trees because it mitigates the need for protecting each individual fig, avoids premature souring, splitting, and molding, and allows for more dead ripe figs. I have not yet matured to the level of Ken's Bird Netting Enclosure or Gene's Birds Bird No Birds but if heaven and earth willing, then I may have to go there because the birds only share with fruit flies and other insects. Better protection means more figs.

 

After reading Bass' Protecting A Fig, I found locally what I now know to be called organza bags. They are cheaper online but I wanted to put them to the test and see how well they manage the frequent and intense rains here before I purchased 50 or 100 of them. So far, it is working. If and when they ripen close to dead ripe, then I will know for sure. Nonetheless, thanks Bass.



Finally, the need to Protect a very first ripening RdB inspired the ingenuity of my Tallahassee pizano Frank which, in turn, inspired this alternate solution made with topped plastic cup-based and a soldering iron. Thanks Frank.

JD, a man has to do what a man has to do.  I like your little tepee. I use something similar when my trees were smaller but had to resort to the big house which has worked flawlessly. I've used cups somewhat like you but your method is much better as it has the support of the branch. I now have another problem but that's for a new topic.
"gene"

Probably a hassle if figs are scattered inground but if in a straight row perhaps some 4x4s drilled and stake to the ground with
conduit and walled with a door and ceiling made of fine metal mesh sorta like a long dog run but made for figs and plenty big for future growth.
Birds and critters would not fit thru fine mesh wire fencing unless they can dig under them 4x4s.

Very cleaver design. Seems like an easy and simple set up. I never net any of my plants. For some reason birds (especially the Sparrows), go only after the figs on my Conadria. They leave other plants alone, even when they are loaded with fruits. They do not even bother going after the dark variants. It is maybe, what I do right when the figs are about to ripen. I make sure the bird feeders are kept full at all time, and scatter lots and lots of sun flower seeds on ground around the feeders.

However, they will go after the Plums, Persimmons and the tiny flowers on my Pomegrante trees.


Navid.

I had the same problem with birds eating my figs. So my  dad  and I built a cage of net around it. It helped us to some extent. We used clean wrap bird's net to protect our fig trees from them.