Well put caticind. I completely agree with your assessment. A 'mild' winter for us is usually a week to 10 days days above freezing :) over a 6-7 month period.
Despite the temps we've seen in the 40's throughout this winter we will be going below zero tommorrow night.
Because of these abnormal temp changes causing my bees to 'be much more active' this winter, thereby consuming the majority of their stores before the winter was half over, along w/ a total lack of 'any' forage from October through March (in N/W Wisconsin) explains especially well, the different challenges of Northern and Southern bees (and beeks :-D )
thomas