Copper Canyon?

The Sandhill cranes and snow geese, amongst many others, are still in NM. I watch the cranes and geese fly over head all day long. They graze in the fields all day. In the evening they fly back to Bitter Lake (mostly) and probably stick around until Feb or March when they start heading back north. So if it's the birds you are looking for, try looking around NM water (Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Elephant Butte SP, Bitter Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Bottomless Lake SP, Brantley Lake SP). Basically any largish amount of water south of ABQ and not in the mountains.

That area is infamous for cartel problems. Normally not a problem for tourists. You will need Mexican Insurance. Not a free zone so car and Motorhome permits are required. These days boondocking is not recommended. Personally, I would not travel to that area. Not the same a s driving down Highway 15. Here is the US travel advisory:

Nuevo Casas Grandes Area (including Nuevo Casas Grandes, Casas Grandes, Mata Ortiz, Colonia Juarez, Colonia LeBaron, and Paquime): U.S. government employees may only travel to the Nuevo Casas Grandes area during daylight hours through the United States, entering Mexico at the Palomas U.S. Port of Entry on New Mexico Route 11 before connecting to Mexico Federal Highway 2, and subsequently Federal Highway 10, to Nuevo Casas Grandes. Employees are permitted to stay overnight in the cities of Nuevo Casas Grandes and Casas Grandes only.

Keep in mind that often these advisories can be overprotective.

Same for us. Great trip and great treasures. We still have a number of the pieces we purchased there.

The ruins were great too.

Can't comment as to how thing are now-- our last motorhome drive through that area was years ago.

But, an interesting side trip from Nuevo Casas Grandes is to the village of Mata Ortiz. They are famous for making pottery-- prices ranging from a few dollars to $10,000. We parked two 36' motorhomes for 4 days in front of the abandoned train station.

Really enjoyed the experience.