This has been a strange year for figs, and I am wondering, did our weird winter have such a great affect?  The warmer summer probably had something to do with the earlier and shorter season, but some are as late, or later than previous years. I have ripe Conadria, which never ripened last season (still on the tree at Christmas), and Black Madeira is several weeks early. Panache and Reverse started off fine, and then midway through their season, began splitting. But there are a number of varieties which have different colors, and sizes compared to last season: Excel, Igo, Falls Gold, etc. 184-15 is 10 times as big as last year (maybe getting over juvenile phase, but still, that is a huge change - see http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/figs4funforum/vpost?id=2155898). Many varieties are larger by 25% or so. Hunt, Brunswick, Vernino and others haven't even begun to ripen. There have been almost no fig beetles this year, and the birds have not hardly touched the figs this season (I'm not complaining) - I haven't even netted my Vista this season.

Is anyone else having a strange year?

I'll gladly send you some birds if it would make you feel better. There were several yesterday who had the gall to yell at me for the entire time I picked figs yesterday.

I don't know enough about growing figs here (San Jose - we have lived here 3 years) to comment on how this year differs from past years. But, our house came with mature apple and  plum trees, the plum is a Santa Rosa and seemed a little early this year, not much more than a week, and loaded with fruit.  All stone fruits were amazingly successful this year in northern CA. The apple (Golden Delicious) is almost finished and is at least 2-3 weeks early. The guy I buy peaches from in Gilroy - south of me about 15 miles- finished his peach season weeks early.
The figs on my Brown Turkey and Black Jack trees (3 years old) have been huge until the past couple of days, way bigger that last years fruit, and not as tasty. I'm still figuring out watering procedures with the figs though so that may be part of the issue.
Gloria
P.S. thank you, thank you, thank you for the spell check !!

Thanx for the offer of some of your birds, but I am guessing the paperwork would be prohibitive.