These split 32 ounce plastic cups have worked well for me for keeping birds away from figs.

Thanks Gerry,very good method.
It is not easy to protect ,fruits especially if you only have a handful.
Something will get them all,most often than not.

Great idea!  I've seen strawberry containers used the same way.  Luckily, I haven't had to resort these extremes...yet.

Nice idea, drivewayfarmer.

But i'm afraid with an open side the cups wouldn't work over here.
The biggest fig pest we have is the black bird (there is a large population of this smart birds over here) and i'm sure he would peck and eat that fig up in no time, as they are expert in entering narrow places.

I use hard plastic nets that fit as a glove over the fig branch. If i don't close both ends, for sure they enter inside the net and when i return the fig is gone.

I used the same tactics with other fruits, otherwise they ruin almost every fruit tasting every single one.

This year, frustrated by the nets, they even managed to break a few to reach the fruits.
Next year it's war! :-)

      
 

Thanks for the tip! I will try this next year.

Kerry,

It's interesting to see how American birds do not eat fruit inside transparent plastic cups .
Their counterparts here seem to be developing particular strategies to make their stealing more efficient and to increase catch !

Seen Blue magpies (rabilongos) cutting the fruit by the stalk and running away with a full fig...
avoiding long exposure  pecking and eating on the tree.
Even electronic bird repellers do not stop them and on commercial plantations the damage created  by birds is considerable.

As Jaime pointed out, only a full net enclosure will avoid this sort of loss
Some commercial vineyards  (for table grapes) already started to install these expensive systems.

Francisco
Portugal

I got this idea from Bob Harper.
It works well for me , but in more severe bird pressure areas it may not.
It has been useful here so I thought I'd mention it for those who may want to try it.
Just another possible way to discourage birds.
The fruit in the picture is a breba of Longue D'Aout.