Although I think that bird netting might work if used on a single tree and one that isn't too tall - I haven't found bird netting to be a particularly good way of protecting my fruit - as apart from the fact that its expensive and involves an awful lot of work to cover a reasonable number of trees - especially as it generally needs to secured - the birds either peck through it or find a way to get under it - especially blackbirds who seem to be especially good at finding a way of getting at fruit.
As I have a large number of fruit trees to protect and have the problem of there being an extraordinary large number of fruit loving birds where I live - and have tried just about every product on the market as well as every means possible to deter birds from getting at my fruit - some of which were really quite bizarre - the only product that I can truly recommend as being an excellent bird deterrent other than having to resort to using as shotgun - is a holographic iridescent tape made for NASA called - Bird X Irri Tape.
However it only works if you live in an area where there is a breeze - as apart from the fact that its not just the noise it makes when the wind blows that causes birds to become disorientated and confused - its also the shimmer of the holographic iridescent material as it blows in the wind - that birds find not only threatening - but irritating
Although I've never been able to tell if any of the birds were more irritable or disorientated than normal - I can honestly say that it really does work and is extremely effective too - as since using it I have lost very little if any fruit
