I know that the best way to protect the figs from birds is netting.  But lets assume that isn't possible. I grow in containers on my patio.  My wife is fine with the figs - and with me getting more - but she's not fine with the idea of nets all over the place.  So, does anything else work.  It's not a problem yet but I'm sure the day is coming.  Right now all I have is one of those decoys of a big cardinal that "wings" spin around when the wind blows. Thanks..Tony

Not everyone will have bird problems.  I have almost zero loss of the fruit from birds........Raccoon's though are another issue.

You could use organza bags over individual figs.  I'm not sure if your wife would like these any better than netting though.  They seem to work well for birds but not for racoons (or possibly other 4 legged critters) who pull the fig and bag right off the tree.  I live just about 1.5 blocks from a very urban area with high rise buildings etc.  Nevertheless, the amount of critter pressure for all the fruits I grow just blows me away. I'm already starting to lose main crop figs that are about 2 months from ripening - probably from squirrels or chipmunks.  The squirrel population is way down though thanks to my Kania trap.  Last year our cat patrolled our backyard but we lost him over the winter.  We have two kittens but I think we will keep them indoors this year. Maybe I need to buy stock in Home Depot with all the netting I need to buy! 

Rewton I use the Kania too, works like a charm

Coil rubber snakes on a upper-middle limb, then use fishing line to suspend the heads to the limb above so they bob in the wind. Chances are she will change her mind about the netting.

I showed her what an organza bag was and told her they'd have to go all over each fig. After she was done laughing she said - no way. She was a little more receptive to the snake idea. I wonder if something like that would work. Do those plastic owls or hawks work at all? Maybe I can just teach my dog to stand guard!

Tony, you can order just greet organza bags and she would never know it. I use a lot of green bags

Tony, take a look at a thread I started a while back  <http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post/scaring-away-the-birds-6951941?pid=1283304240#post1283304240 >

It is about how I use pie tins hanging on wires to scare the birds off my berries. It worked great with blackberries, raspberries and blueberries this year. I don't know yet about figs, but I am going to use it the same way. Be careful to note what I wrote about using wire, not string. I tried string last year and it did almost nothing.

Thanks for suggestions

The organza bags suck!  Our critters bite right through them.  What a waste of money!!  I'm looking for some big rubber snakes to put in my trees.  Birds do not like snakes.  Bird scare tape sort of works.
Suzi

Edit:  I have a $25 GC on Amazon, so I went over there, and the reviews are good for the snakes.  Got a few.

Now since I just bought a bunch of snakes, I will say they do work.  The grandkids got a rubber snake at a birthday party, and the dog played with it and it laid by his bowl.  Sydney came bouncing in, "Hey guys!  The birds haven't touched Gracie's Dog Food.  They are afraid of the snake!"  See?  The birds stay away from Gracie's food.  It's been a couple months.  They move the snake now and then.

Suzi

Suzi, what kind of critters are biting through your organza bags?  If you are saying that fake snakes are the solution then does that mean it is birds that are biting through them or do snakes scare off more than birds?  I have the same problem and I think the most likely culprit is racoons.

Rewton, I don't know, but all I know is the expensive bags are shredded, and the fig is gone.  So I think I wasted my money on the stupid bags.  I still have a lot of them, but...  No trust.  I think a snake will scare off a coyote!  My kids gave me a bunch of herbs for my birthday, and they couldn't find a snake, so they gave me this rubber dinosaur.  Well the thing has scared off every lizard that used to come onto the patio.  It just stands there with it's big teeth and threatens.  They stay away.  Rubber/fake is ok.

Suzi

I do save up those plastic thingies that cherry tomatoes and berries come in.  They have this snap feature, and those will protect your fig or whatever.  No animal or bird can unsnap those things.

Suzi

Find a way to use a net. Basically there are two categories: Nets, and Other.  The organza bags work well for small birds and such, but crows, and some rodents and furry creatures will eat the fig and bag, and all.

Hi Desertdance,
Use harissa or piri-piri around in the area. Take wooden stick and put some upon .
Look at what others things they feed (weeds, ornamental trees, trashcan ), and get that away or secured.

Hi ajv73,
As for birds, you could target to save some figs (not all), and so put the netting -- directly upon one branch or - directly upon the tree-leaves instead of a higher frame ... just to make the net less visible ...

Some use those paper shadows of birds of prey to scare the birds. You could hang some around - it looks bizarre but acceptable IMO.
If you have a child, say the child is proud of her/his handmade shadows , and mum will agree with you :) - Be creative, it probably works with her nephew...
In a more long term, if your tree is out of control size-wise, keeping the tree small -under two meters- will help get less critters - no food, no reason to come !

I had a cherry tree that was getting a lot of critter attention when I lived in the mountains. I thought the racoons were bad till the bear started coming around. You should go out of your way to avoid getting infested with bears. I planted a mulberry next to the cherry. They ripened at the same time as the cherry and all the critters preferred the mulberries... end of problem.

So, just find something that ripens at the same time as figs and that the critters prefer and plan those around your figs. Simple, huh?

BTW Plastic snakes are for wimps, use real snakes... then see if netting doesn't become an acceptable option.

My son used rope to simulate snakes around his garden.  He cut it into 2 or 3 foot sections and curled them into snake-like poses.  It seemed to work.  One of those multi-colored braided nylon ropes that are pretty inexpensive.  I think netting works best on the fig trees though.  (It is a pain when you have a lot of trees).

Mike   central NY state

Wow ! So many great ideas ! Thank you everyone for sharing.  I think fake snakes will also constantly scare me in my garden as well... I am terrified of snakes and if I manage ( which I know I will :) to forget where I placed them... just imagine what will follow next :) hehehe ... screaming jumping  mom in the garden might become  a great entertainment for my hubby and kids... fake snakes might be appearing inside the house as well... Perhaps I need to place them on the roof closer to the trees where birds can see them, but I and my silly familily don't . Some of them do look very much real :)