Do apples and pears ripen after being picked?

[almendro]

About half my apples and pears have been pecked by jays.

If I don't do something soon I will lose all of them.

I suppose the answer is some sort of net.

At the moment they are still a bit tart and they need a couple of weeks more to go sweet.

My question is.
If I pick them now will they sweeten after being picked?

[burnie]

Some varieties seem to shrivle if removed too soon as if they're drying too quickly,got any neighbours who have apples?they'll know how to deal with both problems,barbequed Jay?

[daylily]

Autumn pears ripen well in store, actually that's the common way of picking and ripening.

Apples are another story. Net them next year.