Mile 917.0 - Miles 917-916: RBD Island No 7

John Ruskey

20 Apr 2026 � 1 min read

917 - 916 RBD Island No 7

Heading downstream out of Hickman the paddler rounds Dorena Towhead and is presented with a forest lined channel bank left and punctuated by a series of islands bank right. These are an archipelago of islands that have accumulated along the Island No. 7 Dikes, with giant Island No 8 looming in the background. If a tow is coming up the channel it will most likely be hugging the slow water RBD along these islands. Go with the flow and wander into the middle or left bank of the channel, then cut back across after the tow passes for exploring the islands. Or stay with the best currents right channel if continuing downstream. If the water is 15CG or higher you can cut behind the islands for back channel passage. You will find possible low water camping among these islands, but the landings are often muddy.

Bald eagles are common to this stretch of river, many of whom roost in nearby Reelfoot Lake. Those big birds you see standing on the outside branches of some tall bankside trees could be hawks, or osprey, or bald eagles. Look for the tell-tale white head in the adults. The immature eagles carve the same silhouette in flight, but lack the brilliant white head and tail. Their feathers are splotchy black brown and white, in the air they look black or brown, and might be mistaken for a vulture except for the flight pattern is unique. They tend to hold their wings even with their bodies, but in a double recurve, like a recurve bow, the tip feathers slightly curled up. Turkey vultures make V-lines, and are nervous in flight, shaking back and forth even as they glide. Great blue herons have bing wide wings like eagles, but they chop the air differently when beating their wings, and of course they have their long legs trailing behind. After watching enough eagles in flight you will be able to distinguish between them and all the others.

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