I've just won the battle against groundhog and possum who destroy my young trees. Didn't catch any for 3 weeks and no more damage.
Yesterday, I was ready to harvest some figs, but birds took them and left poo on the tree. Some of my neighbor are feeding the birds. I always see hundreds of bird fly away my yard when I open my door.

I now declare war on birds.
Here is my action list:
1. untrasonic bird repeller http://www.amazon.com/Bird-X-BG-Balcony-Ultrasonic-Repeller/dp/B0019F8JJY
2. bird trap http://www.ebay.com/itm/KNESS-161-0-004-Sparrow-Cage-Trap-18-In-/321076476943?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac1a63c0f
3. Sonic repeller http://www.ebay.com/itm/BIRD-X-Super-BirdXPeller-PRO1-Sonic-Bird-Rodent-Repeller-Weatherproof-110-220V-/281087080949?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&var=&hash=item41721879f5
4. Owl decoy http://www.ebay.com/itm/DALEN-ROTATING-HEAD-OWL-DECOY-/370472202808?pt=US_Decoys&hash=item5641dd3238
5. any environment safe bird toxic bait?

Any comment or better idea?

shotgun???   ;o)

i read few on this same topic. i think best option is just grow enough trees to compensate for the lost figs to the birds. seems like it's a no win situation unless you are willing to net the trees... or lead poisoning distributed by 12 gauge shotgun.

I'm going to be trying rubber snakes this summer. I just ordered some . Justpeachy had mentioned it in one of her 1st posts . They have also been mentioned in the past here as bird deterrents. The one thing I remember is that you'd have to re-position them daily .  I plan on putting them in the trees when the figs are nearing ripeness. Figs are still growing and green here , so the snakes will not go out until they are close to ripening. I also am using the organza bags. If there's a load of figs - that could be quite a task.

A pack of feral cats.

There used to be a dozen of feral cats, they don't do anything good, and poo everywhere on my yard.
The town's health department caught all of them this year.
Bird netting will be my last resort because I live on a cliff, wind is really strong year round. Besides, there are too many trees to cover. If nothing work, then I may setup chicken wire.

Chicken wire's holes are probably too big to keep out birds.

There used to be feral cats in my backyard. They laid under the trees and watched the birds.
I used to own a plastic owl. I felt warm fuzzies when I saw a squirrel eating an acorn while sitting on the perch next to the owl.
CDs blowing in the wind damaged the trees.
Etc. etc. etc.

I had the idea of using rubber snakes a few years ago, but never got to it. Instead of moving them, try passing a fishing line through the head then tying it to the limb above where you have the snake coiled. As the branch blows in the wind, the head will bob. Make sure the snake is one of your fake ones before picking figs.

I don't know if its because I was an army ranger, but I'm going to say shotgun.

I have used those kids pinwheels with a lot of luck. Get shinny ones as the sun reflects it will spook em.

You could try making a scarecrow that you can move around your tree.  I made a simple one from  tomato stakes with one of my shirts,cap and pair of jeans.  The owl decoy will only work a short time until the birds get used to it and ignore it.  Around here I only have problems with mockingbirds damaging my figs.  I think the only sure thing is some kind of netting over your figs.  Good luck.

I once saw how they get rid of birds in city parks, they play a birds distress call to make the birds leave. Alkazelzer in the the bird bath, if the birds drink the water it ruptures their digestive track.

Give them some lead poisoning.......12 gauge #8 shot. Just make sure they're flying when you shoot so you don't hit the figs.

James , nice idea with the fishing line ! Thanks will try that.

   Aircrow looks good.  I've seen them at car dealers and places.  Pretty amazing when they jump up at you.

  http://www.nixalite.com/aircrow.aspx?gclid=CPHHycfvy7gCFYdQ7AodCHIAAg

I'm going to try dangling feathers when (if) the figs start ripening. I hung dangling feathers in front of windows that birds were crashing into and it absulutely stopped happening.  Falling feathers are supposed to mean danger to birds.  
..Alka seltzer ... just horrible!  

We have several "trigger happy" members! How can you shoot a gun in City or within the City limits? Even if you lived in country and were allowed to shoot guns in your propery, you'll never going to stop the birds from flying into your orchard and taking some of your fruits (figs or etc...). Have a friend who has a large Apple orchard in counrty, never seen him taking shots at the birds or even mentioning shooting the birds. If you must protect your hard labor, make a tent similar to what Gene and Ken have made.

Having few mature trees that are 5+ yers old will help in forgetting about the birds. Since there will be plenty of figs will be left from those plants and the younger ones for you.

Please, forget about option five. As far as I know, anything toxic to mammals will be toxic to environment as well. By using toxic baits, one can poison a whole food chain. From birds of preys, Raccoms, cats and etc... And maybe the neighbor's pets that find the poisioned Sparrow or etc....

Netting would be the best option. Although, I never net any of my trees. Maybe I am lucky that birds around my property do not like the figs. And if they go for them, they only go after my Conadria.

Navid.

Buy

Fake snakes?
Scare crow you make yourself
Tinsel ?
String up the fig tree, hang bells?
Music?

Lol

Pin wheels work great. get em for 99 cents in the toy section at walmart. just make sure they are shinny. works with tree rats too.

Navid i cant speak for the others but where I live farmers get up a 3am to drink coffie at micky D's in thier rubber boots. and we are all trigger happy here :) a town full of farmers, hunters, and military vets. the cops aint afraid to get trigger happy around here. thats kinda scary. i cant laugh to much, did a tour of duty in south amarica with the 75th rangers, made it through that and got shot in my house by a would be robber three years back. so now i shoot first and ask questions after wards but my situation is differant than most.

but pin wheels it what i use.